FanLit

There wasn't an appropriate emoticon at the end of the chapter to express how I felt but know that I was deeply, deeply touched. I was able to hold it together until Liz came into Teddy's room with baby Hayley. I hope all first responders find a way to even the scale when it tips towards loss. Unless you are an angel of death or deliberately negligent, you will save more people than you lose. Thank you so much first responders, for trying every day and thank you, Ace, for such a sad, haunting and uplifting chapter. 😰💓

Yeah, okay, your comments and that of a couple others spoke to the angel on my shoulder. *sigh* Richard fucked up, he did and he did so badly. Drake should have been a part of Richard's process since he was in a relationship with him but Richard was afraid; His subsequent actions with Bernadette and the breakup was cowardly and weak, then again, there are many of us who live in glass houses. I was overwhelmed by the depth of emotional destruction Richard leveled Drake with, sometimes you think a situation might not be as bad as someone makes it, this was not one of those times, ☺️. I still don't believe the kiss was altruistic, it was from desperation and need, those were feelings he should have kept in check. Yes, Richard was more of a mess in this chapter than Drake. I liked Drake being in control- "Take care, Richard,” he said quickly, interrupting, and effectively dismissing him. One thing he was sure of… his ex would be the last person Drake would ever turn to, or confide in." I think Drake's healing has already begun, even if he doesn't know it yet. Good, bad or indifferent, this conversation was necessary for Drake. What a well rounded, provocative writer you are, Gary. 👏 Have you ever had this much feedback on a character before?

Very good point. Dick should have reached out of his own initiative, even knowing he'd be be rejected numerous times. Then again, there is always some kind of side drama at a family event, 😄. "Side drama"-I like that phrase.

Sorry to hear you had sad news. I hope there was more to cheer you than this story. Peace and Blessings to you.

I would've loved the chapter but for that cliffhanger, so it only got a like. Mark's gift to Oliver was so touching and perfect. 💞 Oliver's gift to his Dad was so touching and perfect. 🎟 💕 The vibe of the chapter was so radiant, I know you're setting us up, 😂. Thank you, anyway.

And even tho the Messiah members did Oliver a solid (this time), I'm still side eyeing them. 😒

They sure are. Parents don't always realize they pigeonhole their children so it's harder to accept when they break out of that mold. It's worse when the parent expects the worst and little Sally or Jimmy (or Oli 😊) starts doing their best.

That gets a like, love and a ha ha

First times can't be repeated. I loved Oliver and Mark's. The band is good for something, after all, 😄. Ryder's conversation with Oli brought tears to my eyes. "It means love goes on forever.” He exhaled. “It means I never really lost anyone at all, because they’re always here with me.” That's what Ryder needs to hold on to. Hell, it's what we all need to hold on to. Tho I'm partial to the Ryder chapters, this was one of my favorites in the whole story.

" I… I wanted us to have one last day where I could pretend I didn’t have to let you go.” “Let me go? Fuck you, Richard. You mean dump me.” And then he kisses him?!?! I am not dismissing what's his name's journey, but the bottom line is he handled it badly and someone he "loved" got hurt because of it. Even if his therapist was correct and his love for Drake defied gender, all that business that went on at the end of the discussion should not have happened. Then to ask Drake if he still had feelings for him? Why? Would you leave your pregnant wife to get back with Drake? He is still confused and he is still wrong, in my opinion but I guess Drake still needed to have that discussion. So no sympathy for Dick from me- No. Nope. Nada. Drake is a bigger person than me to accept occasional contact from Penis, um, I mean Dick. I think if they kept in touch he would try to get back with him again. He may have had extensive therapy but he is still confused. In spite of my intense dislike of Dick (well that dick, anyway) it was a marvelous chapter, Gary. One issue down for Drake, one more to go. Cheers, my platonic friend. 🍺

Not self denial, I would think more self hatred; It would explain his confrontational, deliberately antagonistic attitude. He did not need to have that press conference to say that while gay people in the military was now legal that HE advised they keep their orientation to themselves under his watch. It's like he has to show how anti gay he is when it really shouldn't matter.

Your heading for this chapter had me SCAY-ERD. Thankfully, it referred to the wars between the gangs. I love the progression between Klaus and Jake. 😍 To hear how Jake got the scar on his arm was heartbreaking and actually gave me a teeny, tiny bit of sympathy for Diaz-to be a kid going away on a trip leaving a whole family behind and to come back to only his brother had to be shocking. 😒 I get he needed to blame someone but he had to know it wasn't Jake's fault. I think it speaks to some underlying resentment Diaz had toward Jake for him to glom onto that as wholeheartedly as he did, something beyond regular sibling rivalry. Great set up for what's to come regarding the gang wars; I still think Diaz won't be able to be saved and that his destruction won't come from Klaus. *raised eyebrow and twirling the mustache*. 😄

For some reason I feel the "esteemed" Colonel has a boyfriend. It is often the ones that loudly denounce a certain population who tend to practice against what they preach.

😳😶 A very gripping introduction.

"Before we knew it two turned into three and three into four. I don’t know what’s happening between us, but we just can’t keep our hands off of one another. I never expected our sex drives to be this high at thirty one, I mean we’re having more sex than we did in high school! But I guess when the love is there, the passion follows." “I love you. I can’t wait to see you when my time comes." This line gave me a chill when I read it, tho I know Ryder was in a healthy headspace when he said it. I like the idea of them living back at the cemetery house. Life is about choices and it was a beautiful thing Ryder chose to remember the good times that happened in the house instead of/as well as the bad. Any one place will be a location of the happiest times in one person's life and the worst time in someone else's. Ryder had both there and by claiming the happier times, he can diminish the power of the bad & with like attracting like, create more good memories. (Tho I'm all for having the place blessed before they move in 😊) I didn't read the previous story so I don't know the character of the Messiah band members besides the glimpse of Brandon here. I just really don't trust them and feel like they would maliciously push Ryder off the wagon or worse, get Oli started.

I thought the disease angle as well initially, thinking he was cleared during his hospital stay, I forgot he hasn't been back long, so much has happened.

That's what I thought when I read the letter, too. They should find out how Rudolph knows all that he does about them, tho.

🎤Teddy fu<*ed Ryyyyydddeeerrrr🎤 🎤Teddy fu<*ed Ryyyyydddeeerrrr 🎤 I thought Mrs. Haner was too hard on Ryder regarding Oliver's antics in school, she knows how her son is and she was embarrassed by getting a call from Mr. Fuller? Does she really care what other people think? To me it doesn't seem she and Harry are on the same wavelength regarding Oliver and school. The band mates in Messiah disgusted me with their attitude toward Ryder's sobriety. Do they care about him at all?!?! WTF?!?? Thank God Ryder had the strength to resist temptation; At least now he knows they can't be depended upon to keep him on the straight and narrow. I'm wondering if it's even worth him dealing with them at all. Oh and if Teddy and Ryder are monogamous, why the rubbers? Pregnancy prevention? 😉😊 Just wondering....

Happy Birthday!! 🎉🎂

"It did amaze him, the fierceness of it, the intensity of it, how it settled down deep inside of him, grafted itself into his bones and body and mind and heart, how it made him feel euphoric and serene at the same time, the mix of passion and tenderness, the need to protect and plunder. It was confusing, chaotic, sweet and comforting and he knew that whatever he had felt for John…or thought he had felt for John…it wasn’t like this. Never like this. And now that he had it, felt it, tasted it, he never wanted to let it go." *Sigh* Your writing is perfection. Thank you.

“And I did fall in love with you. I fell so hard it scared me. And I keep on falling every day, and I hope it never ever stops.” ❤️ Merry Christmas, Mikeal. 😍

Hyacinth is a bitch. 😡

"Mike, honey, just go with it, okay? You can't spend the rest of your life worrying about what society thinks, or that you might get your heart broken. It might end badly, or it might not. But if you spend the rest of your life worrying about things that you can't predict, you're never going to be happy." Words to live by on everything, Julie rocks, too. 😄 While "Baby" can be a generic word of affection, I've never personally thought so and I feel such intimacy when I read Adam calling Mikael that. It's like he tells him "I lub you" when he says it. Adam's an awesome boyfriend.

Adam rocks. While life is full of shades of gray, the important things are simply black and white. I'm sure Adam will show some faults later on but they don't change that he so rocks now. 😄